I am slightly concerned about the DL

[Goatnapper'96]

I've always thought Wilson should move to FB as well. Doesn't seem like he has the mentality for it, though, as you said.

Wilson to FB and Mahina to RS this year and move to DE! Anyone want to start he facebook page?

[Sizzle]

Too bad Wilson shies away from contact. His size and speed would be excellent at fullback. My understanding though is that the want a fullback who can run some dives or carry behind blocking by the "combo back" and that is what Pritchard could do that Mendenhall could not. Friel is not going to fix that problem. We need Alisa or someone like that to fix it.

Wilson was actually who we discussed at first, but decided he was too big of a pussy to handle it.

After watching Alisa at practice, I'm not sure I'd want to move him from the TB position. I like having a bigger back to split carries with, especially somebody to fill the Kariya role once he graduates. Where Friel would be nice is as a guy who can catch the ball out of the backfield and block. Mendenhall is a great lead blocker, but he struggled mightily last year catching the ball out of the backfield. I agree that Friel isn't the answer to running dives, but he definitely meets the other two criteria.

[TheAzzuri]

Edit: Nevermind, should have read further down.

[falafel]

What did I miss?

conditioning and a nagging ankle injury, I believe.

[oxcoug]

I've been scanning the Twitter horizon for word on Rowley as well - the kid is an athlete, has a motor and plays fierce - but have yet to pick up any reports of him terrorizing the backfield or menacing any QBs.

I'd like to point out one thing though that I think structurally lends itself to us hearing a ton about the LBs and far less about the DL - Poppinga is a talker and a favorite interview already. It seems Kaufusi almost never gets interviewed in these articles but Poppinga shows up in all of the Drew / Harmon / Gurney / Wrubell reports. I feel like we end up with a glut of LB info as a result.

As Hsaru pointed out, the DL doing their job is less easy to track for journalist-fanboys like Wrubell and Harmon.

As for the high YPC averages - I'd point out that the D is facing a new offense while the O isn't facing a new defense. These guys have been the lab rats for run play variations that haven't been seen on the BYU practice field - at least not for a while - and, as Goat pointed out - they're going up against what is probably the most experienced O line we've ever had (4 guys who have started together for 3 years? Insane). Anyway... I'm not that worried yet.

[MarkGrace]

Sounds like the dline responded to goat's challenge.

[FN Phat]

conditioning and a nagging ankle injury, I believe.

Do you even watch football? You come across as the type that would watch the highlights and then talk shop with the boys on Monday morning.

[oxcoug]

As if on cue for Napper's benefit, Romney Fuga talks up Rowley as "impressive" this spring.

http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/football/article_fa4414de-c797-11e0-9e35-001cc4c002e0.html

"Players such as Fuga, Manumaleuna and sophomore Graham Rowley - who Fuga said has been very impressive in camp so far - will provide the backbone for defensive success as they continue to get better."

[falafel]

Do you even watch football? You come across as the type that would watch the highlights and then talk shop with the boys on Monday morning.

Sure I watch football. I will admit I don't care for the NFL. I will also admit that I have never played organized football, but I'm sure I'm not the only person here that falls into that category.

Is there something in my comment that is obviously wrong? Outside of going to practices, which is hard for me to do from a state away, how much football would you expect anyone to be able to watch at this point?

[MarkGrace]

As if on cue for Napper's benefit, Romney Fuga talks up Rowley as "impressive" this spring.

http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/football/article_fa4414de-c797-11e0-9e35-001cc4c002e0.html

"Players such as Fuga, Manumaleuna and sophomore Graham Rowley - who Fuga said has been very impressive in camp so far - will provide the backbone for defensive success as they continue to get better."

"At the scrimmage on Saturday, we didn't play as well as we want to," said BYU junior defensive lineman Romney Fuga. "We took that as a personal note to come to practice on Monday and do a lot better. They ran
the ball all over us and that's what we want to stop first."

Junior defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna said the way the unit performed bothered him all weekend. "It bugged me until today," he said. "Having that chip on your shoulder, knowing you have to get better, it helps a lot. It carried over to today and that's been good."

Read more: http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/co...#ixzz1V9Vt17Is

You gotta like seeing that mentality.

[Sizzle]

Read more: http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/co...#ixzz1V9Vt17Is

You gotta like seeing that mentality.

They should be pissed. The OLine handled them handily.

[cougjunkie]

Goatnapper pull the damn string and enjoy the mother effing ride! It is going to be special. Jimmermania is going to look like some enhanced B cups because some chick didn't want to be misproportioned, while Heaps and company are going to be some DDs on a 4'10 90 pound asian that would make even Babs blush!

[BemidjiCoug]

I have one word for your D line concerns. ZIGGY! I know hes taking reps at OLB but hes a beast and could play DE or DT no problem. I think they should just switch to a 1-5-5 and just let Ziggy go nutz. Teach me how to Ziggy

[Shaka]

I have one word for your D line concerns. ZIGGY! I know hes taking reps at OLB but hes a beast and could play DE or DT no problem. I think they should just switch to a 1-5-5 and just let Ziggy go nutz. Teach me how to Ziggy

Oh dear.

[Coach McGuirk]

Oh dear.

Seriously.